KARACHI, May 16: Over 8,000 applicants won residential plots measuring 80, 120, 240 and 400 square yards in Hawkesbay Scheme 42 in a computerised draw performed by Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani at a ceremony on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists after the draw, the minister announced that more plots would be developed in Hawkesbay to accommodate more people.

The scheme, which was initiated on a directive of Benazir Bhutto in 1989, could not be developed due to construction of warehouses and truck stands that defaced its commercial area. He said the unplanned structure would have to be shifted for the development of the scheme. The Lyari Development Authority had already retrieved 300 acres from encroachers, he added.

The minister said a new road linking Mauripur Road with Hawkesbay was being planned to reduce travel time between Tower and Hawkesbay to 15 minutes.

Mr Durrani said the government was developing the beach to make it beautiful as per the aspiration and vision of the party’s slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto so that people of small means could also afford to live near the seaside and enjoy the open seafront.

In reply to a question, the minister said the government was also working to develop new schemes in other towns. The Sehwan Development Authority, Hyderabad Development Authority and Larkana Development Authority were already working while preparations were under way to legislate for setting up development authorities in Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and Sukkur as well.

In his welcome address, LDA chief Agha Masood Abbas earlier narrated the causes of inordinate delay in carrying out development works in Hawkesbay. He expressed the hope that all development work would be completed this year and 10,000 allottees would be given possession of their plots by December.

LG polls

Flanked by Local Government Secretary Ali Ahmad Lund and Karachi Commissioner Roshan Ali Shaikh, Mr Durrani said most differences over the local government system had been sorted out and local government elections could be held by October after the remaining few issues were settled.

The Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement core committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday night at the Governor’s House to discuss the matter, he told journalists.

“If the bill is finalised this month, it will be introduced in the assembly, where it will be passed into a law without any hassle so that the election commission can conduct elections within 90 days according to law.”